Ghost River Outfitters

"Mark Babb, owner, paddling on a SUP giudeboat near the Bateman Bridge"

Ghost River Outfitters was founded in the spring of 2004 by long-time friends, Mark Babb and Don Haley. For years Mark and Don worked together for the Collierville Fire Department, taking advantage of every day off by exploring the Ghost River section the Wolf River. So…in old, beat-up canoes and kayaks they eventually ventured off on journeys down the entire length of the Wolf River, to the Mississippi and beyond. The Ghost River remained to be their favorite section. It wasn’t long before their friends and family were joining them to see what all the Ghost River hype was about. It didn’t disappoint. Everyone was back out on the river in their canoes with every chance they got. Mark and Don immediately started welding trailers, buying boats and setting up what would become Ghost River Outfitters. With occasional help from Mark’s son, Harry, and his daughter, Maleah, Ghost River Outfitters began drawing business every weekend from eager paddlers from all over the Memphis area.

In 2009 Don began spending his summers sailing on the Gulf Coast and turned the business over to Mark and his family. Since then, Mark, Harry and our helping hand August have spent every weekend out at the river outfitting people with canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. The business has grown and now we are proud to help our friends from the Wilburn family, Wolf River Conservancy, Bluff City Canoe Club, and SUPAS get folks out on the Ghost River to see for themselves the majesty of a river that lies at the heart of our community.

"The original wildman, Mike Babb, canoeing with his granddaughter, Maleah."

"Harry Babb, part-owner and son of Mark Babb, paddling a SUP in Mineral Slough"

• How much for a rental? Canoes: $45, Kayaks: $35 SUP: $45
  
• Where do we meet after making an appointment? We will meet at the "Bateman Bridge" at the time of your appointment. Take Highway 57 (Poplar Ave.) East-bound through Moscow, TN and take a right on Bateman Rd. You will find a gravel parking lot/boat ramp about a mile down on the left...right before you cross the bridge.
• How long is the Ghost Section? After we pick you up at the Bateman Bridge, we will take you up river to the next bridge in LaGrange, TN. From there, you will float and paddle through about 8.5 miles of river back to your vehicle at the Bateman Bridge.
  
• Is the Ghost River part of the Wolf River that runs through Memphis? Yes. The "Ghost River" is a section of the Wolf River in the upper section of the same Wolf River that runs through the heart of Memphis.
  

"Co-founder, Don Hailey, kayaking the Ghost Section."